‘Hopeless and helpless’ vets finally given a voice

A high-profile advocate for a royal commission into defence and veteran suicides says the review will ‘help restore veterans trust in the system’.

THE royal commission into defence and veteran suicides is a “small but really substantial step in the right direction”, according to former special forces commander Heston Russell.

Mr Russell, a 16-year army veteran and former Special Forces commander, said the announcement showed the Morrison government recognised the severity of the issues facing veterans.

“It’s going to be absolutely tremendous in helping veterans restore their trust in this system,” he said.

“It’s one small step, but it’s a really substantial step in the right direction that now enables the rest of us in the veteran community to really get all veterans involved in this process.

“It will really help rebuild that trust from the ground up and help to get a lot of that resentment anger and emotion out of the community and into some pragmatic solutions.”

Retired Special Air Service Regiment commander Heston Russell. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Russell, who has been one of the most high-profile advocates for a royal commission, said he founded the Voice of a Veteran community support group after realising people were feeling “hopeless and helpless” because no one was listening to them.

He said the most important role of the royal commission would be to provide a platform for veterans carrying “moral injury and emotional trauma” to tell their stories and be heard.

“To be able to have them come forward and provide their testimonies … is just going to be so cathartic and therapeutic on top of actually helping to quantify … the systemic failings, which we know have been going on,” he said.